Straightening-machine.



G. W. SARGENT & J. W. WEITZENKORN.

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

.APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13, 1913.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

4, SHERTS-S HBET 1..

WITH E3858:

G. W. SARGENT & J. w. WEIT ZENKORN.

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1913.

1 1 19 044 Patented Dec. 1. 1914...

4 SHEETSSHBET 4.

' that would be required to stress UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. SARGENT AND JOSEPH W.

WEITZENKOR-N, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNOLRS T0 CRUCIBLE STEEL COMPANY OF AMERICA, .0]? PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STRAIGHTENING-MACHIN E.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 13, 1918. Serial No. 767,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE W. SARGENT and JOSEPH W. WEITZENKORN, both residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Straightening-Machines, of which improvements thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to rod or bar straightening machines,-' and has to do particularly with machines for straightening high tensile strength steel sl1afting.-

The object of our invention is to provide a machine, whereby cylindrical bodies of different diameters, and made of high as well as low tensile strength steel, may be effectually and economically straightened.

In order to remove a bend or crook from a rod, or in fact any blank of elastic material, it is necessary to deflect it in a direction opposite to the bend, and to such an extent that such opposite deflection will be equal to, but not materially beyond, the deflection v a straight rod up to its elastic limit. The amount of deflection required for thus straightening rods depends, as is well understood by those having an understanding of mechanics, both upon the diameter of the rod and upon the elastic-limit of the material from which it is made. For a given or constant diameter the rods of higher elastic-limits require the greater deflections.

Of the machines heretofore used for straightening steel rods or shafting, the most satisfactory results have been obtained from the machines wherein movements of rotation and of longitudinal advancement have been simultaneously given to a rod by means of a series of rolls suitably grouped about a longitudinal axis, which the rod follows when being straightened. In the operation of these machines the successive increments of the rods length are deflected, such deflection straining the rod up to its elastic-hmlt at all points where the rod is straight, and straining it much beyond its elastic-limit at such points as crooks or bends occur, the rod finally passing beyond the engagement of the rolls in perfect alinement.

\Ve have found that in the rod-straightening machines of this character, as heretofore constructed, the operating rolls are incapable of such precise and extensive adjustment as to render them effective to straighten rods of both high and low elastic-limit, as well as of different diameters, due regard being-given to the time required for the prearranging of the rolls and for the actual straightening process. Therefore, more specifically stated, it is the object of our invention to provide a rod straightening machine of the general character described, wherein the precision, range and character of adjustment of the operating rolls is such that substantially all rods or shafts of both high and low elastic-limit and of different diameters may be effectually straightened with a minimum consumption of power and labor.

A further object of our invention is to improve, strengthen, and simplify the general construction of such machines.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of our specification we have illustrated an embodiment of our invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the complete machine, the several parts thereof being illustrated as if the driving shafts were exactly parallel with, and the roll carriers perpendicular, to the longitudinal extent of the machine frame; Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views taken on the lines II-l[I and III-III respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a portion of the upper part of the machine; Fig. 4; and the figures bearing higher numerals being to a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the top roll carrier, taken on the line V-V, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the broken line VIVI, Fig. 1, showing the construction of an upper roll carrier, the central stationary roll carrier, and the frame of the machine; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VIIVII, Fig. 1, showing an end lower 7 roll carrier; and Fig. 8 is an end view of the right end driving mechanism.

In the several figures like numerals are used to designate like parts.

Our preferred arrangement of rolls com-- prises three pairs of lower rolls (1 and 1 2 and 2, and 3 and 3), and two single upper rolls 4, acting oppositely to and placed one between each pair of the lower rolls. Each of said pairs of lower rolls, as well as each upper roll, is mounted upon suitable carriers, the construction of which will be fully explained hereinafter, such carriers being in turn borne by a frame comprising a bed 5, end supports 6 and a cross beam 8. The upper rolls are cylindrical while the lower rolls consist of transverse segments of cones, the axes of the several rolls'being so disposed as to cause a rod to advance parallel to the longitudinal extent of the bed 5.

Having thus described the general construction and arrangement of the rolls, we will now explain more in detail the roll driving mechanism, the construction of the roll carriers, and the several means of adjusting the rolls.

Any or all of the operating rolls may be driven. Preferably, however, We drive each of the lower rolls and mount the upper rolls in suitable bearings so that they may turn as the rotating advancing rod passes beneath them. All of the driven rolls are primarily propelled by a shaft 9 extending the full length of the machine, as seen in Fig. 3, and terminating at the standards 10, 10, such shaft being driven by a motor 11 through armature-shaft 12, pinions 13 and 14:, shaft 15, and pinions 16 and 17, the latter of which is keyed to the shaft 9. The end pair of rolls 3 and 3 are keyed to shafts 18 and 18, respectively,being rotatable with said shafts but longitudinally movable thereon. Said shafts are driven by shaft 9 through pinions 19, 20,21, and 21 (see F ig.8), the latter two of which are keyed to short shafts 22 and 22, connected by universal joints 23 and 23 to shafts 18 and 18, respectively. The opposite end rolls 1 and 1 are mounted and driven in the same manner as the rolls 3 and 3 and therefore need not be specifically described, it being only necessary to state that the shafts, upon which said rolls 1 and 1 are mounted, are indicated by the reference characters 18 and 18, respectively, and that the standard 10, in which the several transmission pinions are disposed, is constructed and arranged in opposite hand to that of the standard 10. In order to support the driving mechanism for the lower central rolls 2 and 2 a third standard 73 is mounted in the central portion of the machine bed 5, as

seen in Figs. 3 and 6, such standard also acting as a bearing support for the central part of the shaft 9. The roll 2 is driven. through pinion 24 borne by the shaft 9, pinion 25 rotatably mounted in the standard 73, and pinion 26 secured to said roll 2; while the roll 2 is similarly driven through pinions 24, 25 and 26, the pinion 25 although not properly appearing in Fig. 6, being indicated therein by a dotted line.

As will be readily seen the roll-driving mechanism is so arranged as to propel all 5 and the end carriers are longitudinally. adjustable upon such bed. The central carrier (see Figs. 1, 2 and 6) comprises a frame 27, secured to the bed 5 by bolts 28, and having pillow blocks or carriages 29 and 29 slidably mounted upon its upper horizontal portion, the block 29 carrying the roll 2 and the block 29 the roll 2 To effect a lateral adjustment of these rolls, a screw shaft 30, threaded in opposite directions'at each side of its center, is secured to the frame 27, and extends through threaded holes in said blocks 29, 29 The end of said shaft 30 isprovided with a worm wheel .31, WhlCll meshes with the worm sleeve 61, carried by the shaft 32. p

The carriers for -the end rolls 1, 1 and 3, 3 are similar. It will therefore be understood that the description of the carrier for the rolls 3, 3 will fully apply to that for the rolls 1, 1

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 7, particularly the latter, it will be seen that the carrier frame .33 is adjustably sustained upon the bed 5, being clamped thereto by means of plates 37 and that laterally adjustable blocks or carriages 34: and 34*- are longitudinally movable upon said frame. As in the case 'of the central roll carrier, the lateral ad- 'ustment of the blocks 34: and 34* is effected y means of an oppositely threaded shaft 35 and worm wheel 36 secured thereto. Instead of therolls 3'and 3 being carried directly and rigidly by the blocks 31and 34 respectively,'they are mounted within bearings 7 and 7, which have swivel joint connection through bolts 38 and 38 to the blocks 34 and 34, respectively. Projecting laterally from, and formed integrally with the bearings 7 and 7 are arms 39 and 39, which, at their outer ends, form yokes 40 and 40* around the shafts 18 and 18*, respectively, and thus adjustably support such shafts.

The upper roll carriers are borne by the cross beam 8, which, as stated heretofore, extends between the end supports 6. Each .of said carriers comprises two yokes 41 and 42, the former extending over the top of the beam and adjustable longitudinally thereof, and the latter extending beneath said beam and'embracing the sides of the yoke 41, being vertically slidable on such sides. In order to prevent the yoke 42 from end with a worm wheel 44 and threaded at i adjustments, of which there are end roll its lower end, is suitably journale'd in the inner yoke 41; and, through a sleeve 45', supports the outer yoke 42.- Each roll 4 is journaled in a block '46, secured to the yoke 42 by-means of bolts l'l, which extend through slots 48 flanges of the yo e 42. The thrus't of each roll 4 issustained by supplementary hearing rolls 49, two ofsuch rolls being mounted to oppose a lateral extension 50 on'each side of said roll 4. By this arrangement adequate bearing area is aflordedfor'eac'h roll 4, and each roll may be adjusted to positions close to the lower rollswhen desired, the bearings not interfering with such. adjustment.

In describing the construction of the several roll carriers and the driving mechanism, mention has been made of the general adjustments of the rolls. It remains therefore to describe the means for effecting such four, comprising a longitudinal movement of the ower end roll carriers upon the bed 5,1ongitudinal relative movement of'the' upper rollcarriers upon the beam 8, a lateral adjustment of the lower rolls with relation to the general line of advance of a rod, and. a vertical adjustment of the upper rolls. In each WSll'IlllltfiIlGOHS and equal adjustment of all the rolls concerned in such adjustment, thus affording accuracy in the relative arrangement of the rolls and consequently increased efliciency inthe'strai'ghtening ofthe rods.

, The longitudinaladjustment of the lower carriers is effected by means of screws 51, which engage threaded portions of the frame 33, said screws being suitably ,m'ounted in the videdbn their outer ends with pinions 53. hese pinions 53 v mesh with idler pinions 54, which in turn mesh with pinions 55, securedto thG 'OPPQSltB ends of 'a shaft 56, which may be turned by means of a suitable crank 57.'

The longitudinal adjustment of the upper roll carriers is effected by means ofa rod or screw 58,, rotatably mounted in the posts 6, and threaded to engage collars 59-secured to the inner yoke members 41, the arrangement being such that turned, as by a crank 60, thecarriers will be moved eitherlto or from the center of the machine.

The lower rolls,.both the center and end' pairs, are adjusted laterally, with relation to the line of advance of arod by means of a single shaft 32, upon which are keyed worm sleeves 62, such sleeves being longiin the lower outstanding the lower rolls.

instance a single means is provided to effect the deflection required machine bed, and being prowhen said rod 58 is upon said shaft but rota- To turnthe shaft 32 a tudinally movable 'table therewith.

It will be understood that, when the shaft 32 is turned, the worm sleeves 61 engage and turn the pinions 31 and 36 .keyed to the screw shafts 30 and 35, respectively, the screw shaft 30 causing the blocks 29 and 29 to slide laterally and in opposite direc- *tions upon the frame 27, and the shaft 35 likewise moving the blocks 34 and 34 upon the frame 33. Such lateral adjustment of sential in arranging the machine for different size bars, is nevertheless very desirable to the end that the'thrust of the rod upon although not absolutely esthe lower rolls may be maintained in the line of greatest resistance.

The vertical adjustment of both the upper rolls. 4 iseifected by means of a single shaft 63, which is provided with worm sleeves 64 longitudinally movable upon said shaft but rotatable therewith, such worm sleeve being adapted to mesh with pinions 44 of the screws 43. The end of the shaft 63 is pro vi-dedwith a bevel pinion'65,',which meshes with a *second bevel pinion 66 secured to a vertical shaft 67, to which-a hand Wheel 68 is secured. The train of mechanism is such that when said hand wheel 68 is turned the screws 43 will also turn within the sleeve 45 of the outer-yoke roll-carrying member 42, causing such desired. 1 p

-The adaptability of our machine tooperate upon andefiectually straighten rods, bars, and, like cylindrical bodies of any diameter and strength is readily apparent from a consideration of the flexibility and'character of the seyeraladjustments of both lower andupper operating rolls. Having determined to stress a rod of a given diameter and strength, the most pracmembers to move vertically, as

ticable distances between supports for such gitudinally of the machine bed to obtain the desired relative position of the operat-- ing rolls. p

In theoperation. of the machine, a rod is caused to advance from one end to the other thereof, and is given a motion of rotation, by means of the lower drivenrolls, therod being v I rolls, and the lower. rolls being driven with the same peripheral speed byv means of the driving mechanism described above.

In other the upper rolls held firmly against them by the upper A We claim as our invention: 7 1. In a machine for straightening cylin drical bodies, the combination of a frame,

three'roll carriers mounted successively upon said frame and eachsustaining a pair of rolls, two intermediate rolls adj ustably borne by said frame each being between adjacent sively upon said frame and each sustainin a pair of rolls, two intermediate upper r0 carriers borne by saidframe each provided with a single roll and each being between adjacent pairs of rolls, a single means for ad usting the end lower roll carriers longitudinally with relation to the center lower roll carrier, a separate single means for adjusting said upper roll carriers longitudi- Y nally with relation to each other, a single means for adjusting the members of each of said pairs of lower rolls laterally with relation,to each other, and a single means for adjusting said upper rolls vertically.

3. In a machine for straighteningcylindrical bodies, the combination of a frame. a

roll carrier longitudinally adjustable upon said frame, a pair of straightening rolls borne by said carrier and adjustable t ereon, a rotatable member, a pair of shafts operatively connected through universal joints to said member, said straightening rolls being mounted one upon each of said shafts and rotatable therewith but longitudinally movable thereon, and an arm borne by and projecting from said roll carrier for supporting the outer ends of said shafts. v

4. In a machine for straightening cylindrical bodies, the combination'of a machine bed, alroll carrier longitudinally adjustable upon said bed and comprising a frame, a

pair of laterally 'ustable. bearmg borne by each .block, a

pair of rotatable shafts, an operating roll.

orne by each of said bearings and mounted one oneach of said shafts, said rolls being rotatable with but longitudinally movable upon said shafts, and arms projecting from each of'said bearings and engaging said shafts at'their outer ends.

In testimony whereof set our hands.

[GEORGE W. SARGENT.

J OSEIH W. .WEITZENKORN. Witnesses:

C. D. CLANEY, Rnrns W. T-Inrronn, Jr.

adjustable blocks and an we have hereunto I 

